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Home Speech Therapy for Echolalia in Toddlers

At age two-and-a-half, my daughter began receiving speech therapy for echolalia-- a speech pattern sometimes associated with autism-spectrum disorders. Although we had been using at-home speech therapy exercises to treat echolalia for several months, we sought professional help when the problem persisted beyond normal expression for her age. My toddler's speech-language pathologist helped us by providing in-office support, as well as simple "homework" assignments and suggestions of home speech therapy exercises for echolalia.
Because of these home speech therapy techniques, my daughter has begun to overcome her echolalia much faster than she would if she were receiving professional help alone. The following exercises may be useful for your child who has echolalia.
Picture Cards
This is an easy-to-use variation of the "Cue-Pause-Point" system, a technique commonly used by speech-language pathologists to treat echolalia in children. To use picture cards as a home treatment exercise, simply print (or draw) ten common objects on paper cards. Select objects that your child is already familiar with, such as a telephone, a spoon and a shoe.
Begin by holding up the card and asking your child a simple question about it. For example, you can hold up a picture of a chair and ask, "What do you sit on?" The card acts as a reminder that your child should answer the question, rather than simply repeating the inquiry.
After your child has succeeded in answering all ten questions, three times in a row, without echolalia, you can begin asking him the questions without the cue cards. After he's done this, you can switch to a new set of cards.
The Funny Question Game
I'd begun using this home exercise to treat my daughter's echolalia before I took her to a speech-language pathologist, and the speech therapist confirmed that it is a highly effective method. Additionally, our family's Funny Question Game has helped to foster communication, humor and bonding between myself and my toddler. It was what first enabled my toddler to answer simple yes/no questions at around 20 months of age.
To play this "game," ask your child a question with a very obvious yes-or-no answer. For example, you can ask your echolalic toddler, "Does Daddy wear a diaper?" or "Does a cow say woof-woof?"
If your child repeats to question back to you, exhibiting echolalia, simply respond with an exaggerated "Noooooo...." Then laugh at your own response. Afterward, ask your child a related question with the opposite answer, such as "Does a baby wear a diaper?" or "Does a cow say moo?" Give an enthusiastic "yes!" in response. It can help your child develop better receptive language skills.
Third-Person Speech
This home exercise for treating echolalia can be particularly useful for children who, like my toddler, enjoy books. Although it's best to help your child model correct pronoun use, this can be futile for children with persistent echolalia. Don't be afraid to speak in the third person-- referring to both yourself and your child by first name. Narrate your child's experiences as if you are reading a simple book.
For example, if your child consistently echoes your statements, such as "I'm buckling your shoe," switch to the third person. Say, "Mommy is buckling Henry's shoe. Henry has a blue shoe on his right foot."
Although my toddler now frequently speaks about herself in the third person, it is preferable to the persistent pronoun reversal most often seen in toddlers with echolalia. Always consult your child's primary health care provider or a speech-language pathologist if you have any questions regarding your child's speech development.

1 comment:

  1. More than professional help, the support of the whole family will be a great help in overcoming difficulties. Thank you for sharing your tried-and-tested methods. Hopefully, someone in the same situation would find some of these effective on treating their children with speech disorder. I am hoping for your child’s continuous progress. Stay strong!

    Paul Quinn @ Med Care Pediatric

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